Jetsettersblog

Merrion Charles, Specialist Private Travel Consultant for Italy, has some excellent deals available amongst her portfolio of luxury villas including Col di Casale, an enchanting villa in the Umbrian hills with fabulous views and stunning interiors.

Col di Casale

This month’s highlighted villa. Located in a stunning position in the Umbrian hills, Col di Casale is close to the charming town of Montone, famous for its annual film festival, and is also near to a number of cultural ‘gems’ including Assisi, Perugia (with its film festival), Spoleto (with famous festival of the two worlds) and magical Cortona on the border with Tuscany. Restored and furnished exquisitely, Col di Casale is luxurious and enchanting. Sleeping 8, this highly individual property is extremely spacious, is surrounded by colourful gardens and enjoys a beautiful private pool. Col di Casale is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy all that Umbria has to offer in total comfort and privacy. Highly recommended and a property which clients have fallen in love with in the past.

Last minute availability: July 17th to 24th – contact Merrion for special price deal!!!

Also available from September 3rd onwards – arguably one of the most enjoyable periods to stay in Umbria, in September & October guests can enjoy pleasant temperatures, clear light and vivid colours, less tourists and of course the famous mushrooms and truffles of this beautiful region of Italy.

Please contact info@merrioncharles.com for all additional information.

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Top expert in the field of bespoke, tailor made travel, Merrion Charles has an enviable selection of hand picked villas throughout Italy (as well as further afield) ideal for families, large gatherings of friends or couples on honeymoon. Merrion lives in Italy, speaks the language fluently and is passionate about all things Italian. She visits all the properties she promotes and is highly reliable in her discerning choice of villas & hotels with the unusual gift of providing a truly individual and professional service. Nothing is too much trouble – she is genuine, honest and highly efficient with competitive prices and absolute integrity.

To find out more about Merrion Charles and her villa & hotel portfolio as well as her cookery courses and ski safaris go to www.merrioncharles.com



Eshott Hall, Northumberland’s newest boutique hotel has been awarded a prestigious 5 Star rating by the AA within its first year of opening. Received in the guest accommodation category, the 11 bedroom luxury country house near Morpeth in Northumberland was praised for the outstanding quality of its service, its food and its accommodation.

AA stars are allocated according to strict guidelines so that guests know exactly what to expect when they visit a venue. To qualify for 5 stars, venues like Eshott must provide a warm welcome for guests with outstanding service throughout their stay. It should have luxurious public areas, striking interior design and high quality furnishings. The standard of food is equally important and there must be a good wine list and excellent food prepared by a well equipped and pristine kitchen.

Commenting on this award Emma Davis – Hotel Services Marketing Executive for the AA said:

“We are delighted to welcome Eshott Hall to the AA accreditation scheme and to be awarded a 5 Star rating in their first year is a tremendous achievement”.

Eshott Hall, one of the county’s finest Georgian Houses was opened last year as a luxury country hotel certainly meets these standards. It is run by Personal House Managers Dan and Louise Ball who ensure that guests are personally greeted and that their every need is met during their stay.

On receiving this grading Dan Ball Manager of Eshott Hall said :

“This is the first hotel that we have operated and we are absolutely delighted to enter the industry at such a high level. It is fantastic to receive this accolade almost a year to the day since we opened. The feedback from our guests has always been very supportive and it is great to have this officially recognised by the AA Inspectors.”

All the public areas at Eshott including the elegant Drawing Room, Ballroom and Library have been renovated to give a feel of luxury and comfort with an emphasis which is very much on making guests feel like they are staying in their own place in the country. The 11 bedrooms have been individually themed by Louise and include the Oriental inspired Mandarin Room, The Tedsmore with its country lodge decor and The Vegetable Patch overlooking the working kitchen garden. While the rooms are inspired by the elegance of the Georgian era of the house itself, they offer everything required by the modern traveller including LCD televisions, iPod docks and locally produced luxury toiletries.

With its team of outstanding chefs Eshott Hall has quickly gained a reputation for its fine dining and the standard of the food at Eshott including its breakfast was particularly singled out. Its breakfast are well deserving of their five stars are based on fresh seasonal Northumberland produce including kippers from Seahouses, local smoked salmon, Sunny Hill Free Range Eggs and the famous Bamburgh Bangers.

Eshott Hall is open for Morning Coffee, Afternoon Teas and Dinners to Residents and Non Residents. Reservations are required. For further information about Eshott Hall please contact: Dan or Louise Ball on Tel. 01670 787454, email info@eshotthall.co.uk  or visit www.eshott.com

Trade the frenetic pace of every day life for peace, tranquillity and spectacular scenery on Tatra Yoga Holidays three night retreat in the heart of Slovakia’s stunning Tatra Mountains.

The break, from 8 to 11 September, costs just £599 per person including: return flights from Gatwick, airport transfers, three nights half board in a mountain cottage based on single sex sharing, two guided mountain walks, meditation and six yoga sessions. To book consult: http://tatrayogaholidays.com  0161 408 8988.

The outdoor yoga sessions are designed to suit both curious beginners and experienced yogis as tutors incorporate posture adaptations or progressions to cater for individual levels. Morning classes involve dynamic “wake up” postures and late afternoon sessions focus on quietening positions, breath work and relaxation. Yoga classes are complimented with relaxing meditation and brisk mountain walks in spectacular mountain scenery.

Guests stay in mountain cottage Chata pri Zelenom Plese deep in the valley of Dolina Kezmarskej bielej vody on the side of an emerald green mountain tarn. Accommodation is in shared bedrooms with communal showers and hot running water. The cottage creates its own electricity from the force of the mountain stream.

The retreat caters for all fitness levels and helps with wellbeing and stress management, using yoga physical postures (asanas), visualisations, relaxation and breathing techniques as the core activities.

Yoga tutors are fully qualified, experienced and insured and teach Hatha yoga, which moves at a slow to medium pace, and is suitable for everyone. All monies paid for the air holiday package shown are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. The company’s ATOL number is ATOL 6404.

Thousands of mums across the UK are turning to money-saving sites to buck the ‘staycation’ trend and grab a last-minute holiday bargain instead.

As new research* reveals that women are more thrifty when it comes to planning the family holiday, it’s no wonder so many are investigating sites such as http://www.ilovecashback.com/ for everything from a trip to Spain, the number one and cheapest holiday destination* to bagging the biggest beach towels…online.

According to research commissioned by Family & Friends Railcard, the average mother spends £1,337.44 on a family holiday compared with £1,972.49 spent when a father completes the booking.

ILoveCashback, which recently stunned the £50bn-a-year online UK shopping market by giving away a huge £10,000 cashback daily for an entire week identified the trend of women looking to book cheap last-minute overseas holidays from its latest online data.

And now with the outlook for summer looking ever more bleak**, air passenger duty remaining restrictively high***, it’s no wonder booking last-gasp holidays is becoming part of women’s latest obsession of saving money on the net, described in the media recently as the “voucher code revolution” ****.

“Holidays are an essential part of life though everyone is feeling the pinch, it seems mums are still determined to have that week in the sun, whatever it takes!” said ILoveCashback’s managing director, Brad Blake.

“Since the launch last month we’ve seen a lot of people going straight to the last minute holiday bargains sections perhaps as an alternative to booking a UK ‘staycation’. Our member statistics prove that it is women who are doing all the work.

“British people spend an average of up to £2,000 a year on holidays and any savings we can help them make is good news!”

ILoveCashback is the only UK site to combine the three big online price saving options of price comparison, voucher codes and cashback all in one place.

The money-saving ‘super site’ is now the UK’s most advanced online shopping destination and features more than 6 million products from over 1,000 trusted UK retailers including holiday companies Virgin Holidays, lastminute.com and easyJet Holidays, and wider brands including Debenhams, Sainsbury’s, Laura Ashley and House of Fraser.

Added Blake: ““Many have also been checking out the large department stores to stock up on all holiday essentials. Giant beach towels have proved popular and we have sold no end of hair straighteners. It must be all the swimming, or perhaps one of the things people always forget. And we can confirm – jelly flip flops are still as popular as ever …”

- Flights from Gatwick and Manchester to Egypt’s Sharm el Sheikh to launch this winter -

Monarch, the scheduled leisure airline, has this week launched new scheduled flights to Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheikh. The flights, which start from £173.99 return including all taxes and charges, are available to book from today via www.monarch.co.uk.

Monarch’s new scheduled flights to Sharm el Sheikh will operate three times per week from Gatwick and Manchester airports on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, starting from 03 November 2011.

Commenting on the launch of the new flights to the Red Sea, Managing Director of Monarch Airlines, Kevin George said, “We are delighted to be launching new scheduled flights to Sharm el Sheikh this winter, which follows hot on the heels of our announcement last month to launch flights to the resort for summer 2012. This now means that from November 2011 we will have year-round scheduled flights to the Red Sea resort and further supports our shift to focusing on scheduled flying.

“Monarch’s innovative ‘build your own class’ service offers customers the ability to tailor their flight package to their exact requirements, providing a greater sense of freedom and personalisation. Optional extras such as extra legroom seating and pre-ordered meals in addition to fantastic value fares, makes Monarch a great choice for longer flight durations such as Egypt.”

Monarch’s scheduled flights are available to book until October 2012. Customers now booking flights will also benefit from zero debit card charge fees and a fixed fee for all credit card bookings, regardless of the transaction value or number of people travelling.

UPTOWN PALACE (5*) in Milan, opening September 2011

The exclusive Uptown Palace is located in the heart of Milan. Closeness to the Duomo and the thriving business and shopping districts makes this hotel a convenient meeting point and an ideal base for exploring the city.

The accommodation will consist of 168 guestrooms including 15 Junior Suites, 4 Executive Suites and 1 Presidential Suite all decorated in a sober yet sophisticated style that is modern and elegant at the same time. The Restaurant, located on the upper floors will have a large terrace with panoramic views of the city. The Up Feeling Spa will offer treatment rooms, sauna, Turkish Bath, Jacuzzi, emotional showers and fitness area. The Uptown Palace will be the perfect combination of elegance, warmth and modernity. www.preferredhotels.com

GRAN MELIA HOTEL (5*) in Rome, opening September 2011

The Gran Melia in Rome is located on the banks of the River Tiber on the Janiculum Hill, only 5 minutes walking distance from the Vatican and 15 minutes from Campo de’ Fiori and Piazza Navona. The building was once a Palazzo belonging to the aristocratic Torlonia Princes.

Due to be opened in September 2011, it will offer 116 rooms & suites all luxuriously fitted with views over the Vatican, Castel Sant’Angelo or gardens. The Gran Melia will also have an indoor and an outdoor restaurant, bar, roof garden of 3000sqm with breathtaking views, wellness centre, swimming pool and gym and 3 meeting rooms. www.gran-melia.com

NEW! ALITALIA BUS SERVICE in Rome

Alitalia Airlines have introduced a new bus service for their passengers at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport and links the airport to the city centre. The bus has a capacity of 55 or 64 seats and costs 7 euros. The tickets can be purchased in advance on the company’s website, the customer will receive an e-mail with a coupon to present on the bus together with his boarding pass. The bus, with the Alitalia livery, will operate from 6am to 10pm every 30 minutes.

http://www.alitalia.com/GB_EN/your_travel/organize_your_travel/alitaliabus.aspx

NEW EASYJET FLIGHT FROM GATWICK TO VERONA

As from 3 June EasyJet has introduced a new daily flight from London-Gatwick to Verona. www.easyjet.com

Renowned for its elegance, Mallorca’s boutique Hotel L’Avenida (www.avenida-hotel.com) is remaining open this the winter for the first time to offer exclusive rental of the mansion for groups of friends or family and has created a special three-day package for these groups to explore the warm and wonderful flavours of the island with a food and wine course in the company of a talented local chef and a wine maker.

The chic eight bedroom mansion hotel is located in the heart of Soller on the island’s north west coast and offers breath-taking views of the dramatic Serra de Tramuntana Mountain range. It first opened in March 2007 following months of meticulous restoration to transform it from a private building, designed by one of Gaudi’s disciples, into an exclusive townhouse hotel and has been voted one of the top 20 hotels in Spain by Trip Advisor for the last two years.

The ‘Flavours of Mallorca’ package is available for groups with a minimum of six people. On the first day the group will have a free morning to explore the pretty little town of Soller before an afternoon visit to one of the town’s hidden gems, the C’an Det olive oil mill. Olive growing and olive oil production has been a big part of Mallorca’s history since the 16th Century, and this visit is a fascinating opportunity to see one of the three remaining mills in Mallorca in production.

In the evening the group will dine at the local restaurant of Ca’n Boqueta where they will be able to taste some local Mallorquin dishes, such as ‘Quail Risotto’, ‘Dorade Cerviche & Citrus Salad’ and ‘John Dory in an Almond Sauce’ and meet its talented chef Kiko Martorell, who will be their guide and teacher the following day.

The second day begins with a drive to Mallorca’s capital Palma, where they will meet Kiko for a very special shopping trip around Palma’s famous El Olivas market to not only enjoy the hustle and bustle of local market trading but also to help Kiko pick out the key ingredients for their unique cooking lesson in the afternoon. Back at the hotel Kiko will teach the group how to bring together their purchases to recreate some of his grandma’s classic, colourful and delicious Mallorquin recipes such as ‘Escalivada of Mahon Cheese’ with salad and ‘Baked Cod Fish with a Chickpea Cream Sauce’. To round off the day the group will be able to feast on their own creations in the hotel that evening.

For the final day of the trip the group will visit one of Mallorca’s wineries or Bodegas. The island has over 65 Bodegas and about 300 different wines. The group will be able to learn about the process of wine production, grape combinations and blending and enjoy a private tasting session before a delicious lunch. Back at the hotel there will be time to relax with warm drinks around the hotel’s fire before a farewell Tapas meal at the hotel that evening.

The three day package is available from 1st November 2011 through to 1st March 2012 (excluding December) and costs €650 (£576) per person. Cost includes three night’s single occupancy on a bed and breakfast, all transport, dinner at C’an Boqueta the cookery teach-in, the Vineyard tour with lunch and Tapas dinner at L’Avenida. Excludes all drinks and taxes where applicable.

For reservations call 0034 971 634 075 or visit the website www.avenida-hotel.com

Britain’s leading guided walks specialist, Ramblers Worldwide Holidays, has just launched its new ‘Cruise & Walk’ programme which includes many old favourites as well as new holiday options.

Commenting on the launch, Ramblers Worldwide Holidays, Joint Managing Director, Kathy Cook said, “Our Cruise & Walk holidays have proved immensely popular – offering our clients the ‘very best of both worlds’. They can enjoy the freedom of a walking holiday to beautiful and inspiring destinations whilst being pampered aboard a Fred. Olsen cruise liner.

Now in its fifth successful year, the programme embraces the British Isles, Western Mediterranean, Iberia and Morocco, Norway, Iceland, Greenland, the Faroes, Baltic, Canaries, Cape Verde, West Africa and the Caribbean. New additions are:

Iberia – (8 nights) This cruise which departs Dover on Braemar, 30 August 2012 includes, Lisbon, Portugal; Leixoes (Oporto), Portugal; Vigo and Ferrol, Spain.
Lead in price £999 per person – full-board accommodation, excursions and the services of a dedicated tour leader.

Iberia and Morocco – (10 nights) departs Southampton on Braemar, 24 February 2013. Itineraries vary according to each cruise but highlights include, the Port wine city of Oporto at the mouth of the Douro Valley; a fascinating guided tour of old Lisbon; Portimão in the Algarve with great walks between Luz and Salema; Santiago de Compestela to visit the shrine of St James; Seville with its magnificent cathedral, Alcazar and Barrio Santa Cruz; Vigo – Spain’s main fishing port and in North Africa, the bustling modern town on Tangier with its ancient walled Medina.
Prices on request.

Canaries, Cape Verde and West Africa – Two cruises are available and again, itineraries vary but, the main highlights include, São Vicente on Cape Verde (400 miles off the coast to Senegal) where one walks through the old colonial city of Mindelo; Monte Verde with its stunning views; Santiago island, with walks through verdant valleys of sugar cane and mangoes to the old capital, Cidade Velha; Santo Antão with its spectacular extinct volcano and lush Paul valley; legendary Casablanca with visits to souks and the Mosque of Hassan II; a rural village in The Gambia; Dakar in Senegal and the island of Goreé.

Departing Southampton on Black Watch 26 November 2011 – 18 nights – price from £1,714 per person – full board accommodation, excursions and the services of a dedicated tour leader. And

Departing Southampton on Braemar 20 January 2013 – 21 nights – price on request.

www.cruiseandwalk.co.uk  01707 386767

Pirates to steam trains…family fun from under £50

School’s out for summer – well almost – and with the holidays fast approaching, parents will be searching for ways to keep the kids busy. Fun-seeking families need look no further than the idyllic Isle of Wight which offers exciting days out for kids of all ages. Busy parents can save themselves the hassle of researching child-friendly attractions on the island as Wightlink (0871 376 1000* www.wightlink.co.uk ) has done the leg-work for them, selecting five great-value family days out. With prices starting from just £46.50 for a family of four, including return ferry travel and entry to the attraction/event, parents can entertain their children this summer without breaking the bank.

1. Become a Junior Falconer: 27 July, 3 , 24 & 31 August

With excitement reaching fever pitch over the upcoming release of the final instalment of the Harry Potter film series, kids looking to develop their wizarding skills should take a trip to Isle of Wight Owl & Falconry Centre and enjoy a thrilling one-day course learning to fly an owl or a hawk. Following an introductory talk and demonstration, Junior Falconers will learn the theory and skills behind bird handling, before getting a chance to fly two trained birds. Become a Junior Falconer costs £25 per child (advance booking essential: 01983 852484) and can be combined with the Wightlink Owl & Falconry Day Out offer, which costs just £45 for a family of four including day return car ferry travel and entry to the Owl & Falconry Centre. Junior Falconers must be aged 7-16 years and accompanied by an adult (free of charge). Total price for a family of four (including two Junior Falconers): £95.

2. Let off some steam with Thomas and friends: 23-26 July

Fans of Thomas the Tank Engine can enjoy a day out at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway this July, when the legendary steam train returns to the island for his annual holiday. Kids can take a ride aboard a steam train, meet Thomas and friends and watch Punch and Judy shows before letting off some steam on the bouncy castles and roundabout rides. Travel on foot from Portsmouth on the Wightlink catamaran, take a short electric train journey to Smallbrook Junction where a steam train waits to take passengers to meet Thomas. The special deal from the mainland costs £24.70 for adults and £12.30 for children (5-15 years) – or £74 for a family of four.

3. Meet the Carisbrooke Castle donkeys: 1–31 August

Kids can get up close and personal with Carisbrooke Castle’s furry friends on a visit to this 11th-century Saxon fortress, most famous as a royal prison to Charles I. Children who help the donkeys find all their carrots on the Donkey Quest and Carrot Trail will receive a prize. Kids will enjoy meeting donkeys like JimBob and Jigsaw, but will also return to school in the autumn with new history tales to wow their classmates! Using a Wightlink Days Out ticket, this adventure on the Isle of Wight costs just £46.50 for a family of four including day return car ferry travel and entry to Carisbrooke Castle.

4. Follow in dinosaur footsteps with a Fossil Walk: Selected days in July and August

Forget Jurassic Park and head to the Isle of Wight – Europe’s most important site for dinosaur remains! A day out at Dinosaur Isle will keep dinosaur-lovers of all ages entertained. In addition to animatronic dinosaurs, a working laboratory and life sized fleshed re-constructions, the interactive museum goes that extra mile by offering regular beach Fossil Walks. Parents looking to give their kids a memorable prehistoric day out should act fast and snap up a place on one of these in-demand excursions (booking essential). A Wightlink Days Out ticket to Dinosaur Isle, including entry and car ferry crossings costs £43.50 for a family of four. Fossil Walks are priced at £14. Total price for a family of four: £57.50.

5. Have a swashbuckling day out at Carisbrooke Castle: 2-4 August

Kids who fancy themselves as the new Jack Sparrow will love taking part in Carisbrooke Castle’s Time Travellers Go…Seafaring event. On this pirate extravaganza, kids will learn the ropes of 19th-century seafaring, trying their hand at nautical activities including sailing their own ship during a mock sea battle, practicing the art of knot tying and crafting their own navigational device to take home and show their friends. Taking place on 2-4 August, a family of four can get there using a Wightlink attraction and travel-inclusive days out ticket for £46.50 including ferry crossings from Portsmouth or Lymington. An additional £1 is charged for every child joining in the activities. Total price for a family of four (including activities for two children): £48.50.

* Calls cost 7p per minute plus network extras